10-10-03

5,000 back Barrett pension book campaign

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today welcomed the news that his petition campaign against Government's plans to scrap pension books has now been signed by over 5,000 people across Edinburgh.

The Department for Work & Pensions is changing the way state pensions are paid out.  Over the next two years, every pensioner will receive a letter outlining three options for receiving their pension in the future.  However, retaining the pension book will not be an option.  Pensions must be paid directly into:

• an existing normal bank or building society account;
• a new basic bank account;
• or a new post office card account

Following an article in local newspapers and support from organisations in his constituency, Mr Barrett received thousands of letters of support from across Edinburgh, especially from pensioners.  Many older people told him of their anger at losing a system they have learned to trust and their worry about having to learn PIN numbers to access their pension.

Almost half of all pensioners choose to get their pension using a pension book.  In Edinburgh alone, over 32,000 pensioners still get their pension this way.
In a statement, John Barrett said:

"The response to my newspaper articles were nothing short of overwhelming.  I would like to thank the literally thousands of people who sent in letters or phoned my office in support of my campaign.  Getting 5,000 signatures in such a short space of time is nothing short of phenomenal.

"The success of the campaign shows how angry pensioners are at the new system being forced upon them.  They are worried at the thought of having to use special smart cards and pin numbers to get their money and furious that their simple pension books will soon be confined to the dustbin.

"The Government can no longer ignore the strength of feeling on this issue.  Labour promised to learn from the debacle a few years ago when pensioners were given a derisory 75p pension increase.  This is the perfect chance to show they are listening to pensioners.  Now is the time for them to scrap these ridiculous plans."

Completed petition sheets are still coming into John Barrett's office. Once all signatures have been collected, Mr Barrett will be handing them into 10 Downing Street.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• More information on the details of the new automated credit transfer (ACT) system can be found at the Pension Service website at
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/directpayment/home.asp

• A copy of John Barrett's article which appeared in the Evening News can be found at http://www.news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=818042003